The US State Department evacuated 145 US citizens, permanent residents, and their families from Lebanon on Saturday, with more than 600 people assisted to leave Lebanon on government-organised flights. The death toll from an Israeli air strike at a mosque in Gaza has risen to 18, with dozens injured, as Israel continued air strikes in the region. Israeli forces also targeted south Beirut and its outskirts, and tensions between Israel and Iran escalated with threats of retaliation from both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for calling for an arms embargo on Israel, while Macron’s office responded by reaffirming France’s friendship with Israel. The president of Ireland condemned Israel’s demand for UN peacekeepers to leave their positions in southern Lebanon. Beirut has been under intense air strikes, including near the airport where evacuees are leaving, and Israeli forces have continued to target Gaza and the West Bank. The situation remains volatile as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
Live Coverage: Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes on Beirut and Gaza, Causing Multiple Casualties
